Cromolyn

How Does This Medication Work?

Cromolyn is an anti-inflammatory medicine that prevents airways from
swelling when they come in contact with an asthma trigger.

It is an inhaled medicine
that can be taken using a metered dose inhaler or by nebulizer.

Most people who use cromolyn to prevent asthma attacks take the
medicine every day. People who take it to prevent asthma attacks caused
by exercise or by contact with an asthma trigger (like a cat or a dog),
take the medicine between 5 - 60 minutes before they are exposed to the
trigger. The effects of the medicine last 3- 4 hours. three or four
hours.

Side Effects

Sometimes asthma medicine makes people feel weird or sick at the
same time it is making their asthma better. These weird or sick
feelings are called "side effects".

Cromolyn is a very safe medicine with very few side effects. The
only side effect is a dry cough. You can avoid this by rinsing your
mouth and drinking some water after taking it.

Cromolyn cannot be used to stop an asthma episode once it
has started; it can only be used to keep an episode from
starting. This medicine does not work for everybody who has
asthma and it may take up to 6 weeks before it starts working.